Radiating fin structureand thermal module using same

ABSTRACT

A radiating fin structure includes a main body being angularly upward extended from a first surface to form at least a first and a second ascending airflow-guiding section, so that a first and a second exterior angle are respectively contained between a line extended from an opposite second surface of the main body and the first and the second ascending airflow-guiding section. A thermal module using the radiating fin structure is also disclosed. The thermal module includes at least one heat pipe, a plurality of the above-described radiating fins sequentially extended through by an end of the heat pipe, and a base receiving another end of the heat pipe therein. An ascending airflow passage is defined between any two vertically adjacent first ascending airflow-guiding sections and any two vertically adjacent second ascending airflow-guiding sections to enhance natural convection and accordingly largely upgrades the natural cooling efficiency of the thermal module.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a radiating fin structure and a thermalmodule using same, and more particularly to a radiating fin structureand a thermal module using same capable of enhancing natural convectionto enable upgraded natural cooling efficiency of the thermal module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The progress in semiconductor technology enables various integratedcircuits (ICs) to have gradually reduced volume. For the purpose ofprocessing more data, the number of components provided on the presentlyavailable ICs is several times higher than that on the conventional ICsof the same volume. When the number of components on the ICs increases,the heat generated by the components during the operation thereof alsoincreases. For example, the heat generated by a central processing unit(CPU) at full-load condition is high enough to burn out the whole CPU.Thus, it has become a very important issue in the computer-relatedfields to properly provide a heat-dissipation device for ICs.

Generally, the currently available heat sinks are manufactured usingmetal materials with high thermal conductivity and include flatradiating fins to provide increased heat dissipation area. Meanwhile,for the purpose of obtaining upgraded heat dissipation effect, heatpipes are usually used with heat sinks to enable quick removal of heatfrom the heat-generating elements and protect IC products againstburnout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional thermal module 10, whichincludes a plurality of heat pipes 11, a plurality of radiating fins 12and a base 13. The heat pipes 11 respectively have a heat-absorption end111 and a heat-dissipation end 112. The radiating fins 12 aresubstantially flat plates stacked on top of and spaced from one another,and are sequentially extended through by the heat-dissipation ends 112of the heat pipes 11, such that a horizontal airflow passage 121 isformed between any two adjacent radiating fins 12. The heat-absorptionends 111 of the heat pipes 11 are received in the base 13.

The base 13 is in contact with a heat-generating element (not shown), sothat heat generated by the heat-generating element during the operationthereof is transferred to the base 13. The heat-absorption ends 111received in the base 13 absorb the heat transferred from theheat-generating element to the base 13 and transfer the absorbed heat tothe heat-dissipation ends 112. The radiating fins 12 sequentiallyextended through by the heat-dissipation ends 112 of the heat pipes 11absorb the heat transferred to the heat-dissipation ends 112, and theheat absorbed by the radiating fins 12 is carried by the air in thehorizontal airflow passages 121 to a space outside the thermal module 10to achieve the purpose of heat dissipation.

However, in the process of using the flat radiating fins 12 to removeheat through natural cooling, only the heat at the top and bottomradiating fins 12 and outer peripheral portions of all other radiatingfins 12 can be ideally carried away while most of the heat absorbed bythe radiating fins 12 accumulates in the horizontal airflow passages121, particularly around the positions at where the radiating fins 12are extended through by the heat pipes 11. Therefore, the conventionalthermal module 10 has poor natural cooling efficiency to cause largelyreduced heat dissipation performance. To achieve the same required heatdissipation effect, it is necessary to increase the radiating fins toobtain increased heat dissipation area and use a cooling fan along withthe radiating fins. By doing this, it would, however, adversely increasethe overall weight and the material cost of the thermal module 10.

In brief, the thermal module using the conventional flat radiating finshas the following disadvantages: (1) poor natural cooling efficiency;(2) low heat dissipation efficiency; (3) accumulated heat; (4) increasedoverall weight; and (5) increased material cost.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop an improved radiatingfin structure to overcome the problems in the thermal module usingconventional flat radiating fins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a radiating finstructure capable of enhancing natural convection effect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal modulethat includes radiating fins capable of enhancing natural convectioneffect.

To achieve the above and other objects, the radiating fin structureaccording to the present invention includes a main body having an upperand a lower side defining a first and a second surface, respectively. Atleast one pair of two opposite ends of the main body is angularly upwardextended from the first surface to form at least a first ascendingairflow-guiding section and at least a second ascending airflow-guidingsection, so that a first exterior angle is contained between the firstascending airflow-guiding section and a line extended from the secondsurface of the main body, and a second exterior angle is containedbetween the second ascending airflow-guiding section and the lineextended from the second surface of the main body.

To achieve the above and other objects, the thermal module according tothe present invention includes at least one heat pipe, a plurality ofthe above-described radiating fins sequentially extended through by aheat-dissipation end of the at least one heat pipe, and a base having atleast a receiving hole for receiving a heat-absorption end of the atleast one heat pipe therein. With these arrangements, a horizontalairflow passage is defined between the second surface of an upperradiating fin and the first surface of an adjacent lower radiating fin;a first ascending airflow passage is defined between any two verticallyadjacent first ascending airflow-guiding sections; and a secondascending airflow passage is defined between any two vertically adjacentsecond ascending airflow-guiding sections. Since the first and secondascending airflow passages provide spaces for natural convection, air inthe horizontal airflow passages would carry the heat transferred to andthen radiated from the radiating fins to naturally flow through thefirst and second ascending airflow passages to a space outside thethermal module. That is, by providing the first and second ascendingairflow-guiding sections on the radiating fins, the thermal module canhave enhanced natural cooling efficiency, and the absorbed heat wouldnot accumulate between the radiating fins. Therefore, the area of theradiating fins can be reduced to lower the weight and material cost ofthe thermal module.

In brief, the thermal module of the present invention has the followingadvantages: (1) upgraded natural cooling efficiency; (2) increased heatdissipation efficiency; (3) avoiding heat from accumulating betweenradiating fins; (4) reduced overall weight; and (5) lowered materialcost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present inventionto achieve the above and other objects can be best understood byreferring to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermal module using conventional flatradiating fins;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a radiating fin structure according toa first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the radiating fin structure of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is another side view of the radiating fin structure of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a thermal module using the radiatingfin structure according to the first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the thermal module of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a radiating fin structure according toa second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a thermal module using the radiatingfin structure according to the second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4C is a side view of the thermal module of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a radiating fin structure according toa third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a thermal module using the radiatingfin structure according to the third preferred embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of a radiating fin structure according to a fourthpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with some preferredembodiments thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Forthe purpose of easy to understand, elements that are the same in thepreferred embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B that are perspective and side views,respectively, of a radiating fin structure 20 according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention. For the purpose ofconciseness, the radiating fin structure is also briefly referred to asa “radiating fin” herein. As shown, the radiating fin structure 20according to the first preferred embodiment includes a main body 30having an upper and a lower side defining a first surface 31 and asecond surface 32, respectively. One pair of opposite ends of the mainbody 30 is angularly upward extended from the first surface 31 to format least a first ascending airflow-guiding section 33 and at least asecond ascending airflow-guiding section 34, so that a first exteriorangle 331 is contained between the first ascending airflow-guidingsection 33 and a line extended from the second surface 32, and a secondexterior angle 341 is contained between the second ascendingairflow-guiding section 34 and the line extended from the second surface32. The first and the second exterior angle 331, 341 can be rangedbetween 30 and 80 degrees, and are preferably ranged between 45 and 60degrees. FIG. 2C is another side view of the radiating fin structure 20according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the illustrated first and second exterior angles 331, 341 aresmaller than those shown in FIG. 2B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective and side views, respectively, of a firstembodiment of the thermal module 40 according to the present invention.Please refer to FIGS. 2A, 3A and 3B at the same time. The thermal module40 in the first embodiment includes at least one heat pipe 50 (two areshown in the drawings), a plurality of radiating fins 20, and a base 60.Each of the heat pipes 50 has two ends being a heat-dissipation end 51and a heat-absorption end 52, respectively. The radiating fins 20 arethe same as those having been described with reference to FIGS. 2A to2C. That is, each of the radiating fins 20 includes a main body 30having a first and a second surface 31, 32, and one pair of oppositeends of the main body 30 is angularly upward extended from the firstsurface 31 to form at least a first and at least a second ascendingairflow-guiding section 33, 34. For forming the thermal module 40, themain bodies 30 of the radiating fins 20 are correspondingly providedwith at least one through hole 35 each (two are shown in the drawings),which extends from the first surface 31 to the second surface 32, forthe heat-dissipation end 51 of the at least one heat pipe 50 to extendtherethrough. The base 60 is provided with at least one receiving hole61 (two are shown in the drawings) for receiving the heat-absorption end52 of the at least one heat pipe 50 therein.

With the above arrangements, at least a horizontal airflow passage 41 isdefined between the first and the second surface 31, 32 of twovertically adjacent radiating fin 20, at least a first ascending airflowpassage 42 is defined between any two vertically adjacent firstascending airflow-guiding sections 33, and at least a second ascendingairflow passage 43 is defined between any two vertically adjacent secondascending airflow-guiding sections 34. When the heat generated by aheat-generating element (not shown) is transferred to the base 60, thetransferred heat is absorbed and further transferred by theheat-absorption ends 52 of the heat pipes 50 to the heat-dissipationends 51. The heat transferred to the heat-dissipation ends 51 of theheat pipes 50 is then absorbed by the radiating fins 20 that aresequentially extended through by the heat pipes 50 via the through holes35. The heat absorbed by the radiating fins 20 is then radiated into thehorizontal airflow passages 41 defined between the vertically adjacentradiating fins 20 to heat the air in the horizontal airflow passages 41.Since the provision of the first and second ascending airflow passages42, 43 enhances the phenomenon of natural convection, the hot air in thehorizontal airflow passages 41 naturally flows through the first and thesecond ascending airflow passages 42, 43 to a space outside theradiating fins 20 to carry the heat away from the thermal module 40 andthe heat-generating element. In this manner, the thermal module 40 canhave largely upgraded natural cooling efficiency and the absorbed heatwould not accumulate in the horizontal airflow passages 41. Further,with the present invention, the overall area of the radiating fins 20can be reduced to enable lowered weight and material cost of the thermalmodule 40.

FIG. 4A shows a radiating fin structure 20 according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4B and 4C areperspective and side views, respectively, of a second embodiment of thethermal module 40 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.4A, the radiating fin 20 in the second preferred embodiment alsoincludes a main body 30 having one pair of opposite ends angularlyupward extended to form at least a first and at least a second ascendingairflow-guiding section 33, 34. In the second preferred embodiment, thefirst and the second ascending airflow-guiding section 33, 34 include aplurality of first and second extending segments 332, 342, respectively.The first extending segments 332 are integrally serially connected toone another to constitute the first ascending airflow-guiding section33, and the second extending segments 342 are integrally seriallyconnected to one another to constitute the second ascendingairflow-guiding section 34, such that the first and the second ascendingairflow-guiding section 33, 34 are curved in shape.

The thermal module 40 in the second embodiment is generally structurallysimilar to the first embodiment, except that the radiating fins 20thereof are the same as that shown in FIG. 4A. In the second embodimentof the thermal module 40, the heat-dissipation ends 51 of the heat pipes50 thereof extend through all the radiating fins 20, and theheat-absorption ends 52 of the heat pipes 50 are received in the base60. Therefore, at least a horizontal airflow passage 41 is definedbetween any two vertically adjacent radiating fins 20 that have beensequentially extended through by the heat-dissipation ends 51 of theheat pipes 50, at least a curved first ascending airflow passage 42 isdefined between any two vertically adjacent curved first ascendingairflow-guiding sections 33, and at least a curved second airflowpassage 43 is defined between any two vertically adjacent curved secondairflow-guiding sections 34. And, the first and the second ascendingairflow passages 42, 43 extend from two opposite ends of the horizontalairflow passages 41 and communicate with the latter. Since the first andthe second ascending airflow passages 42, 43 provide spaces on thethermal module 40 for natural convection, the thermal module 40 in thesecond embodiment can also have upgraded natural cooling efficiency.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a radiating fin structure 20 accordingto a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B isa perspective view of a third embodiment of the thermal module 40 of thepresent invention. The radiating fin structure 20 in the third preferredembodiment is generally structurally similar to the first preferredembodiment, except for a third and a fourth ascending airflow-guidingsection 36, 37. That is, in the third preferred embodiment, theradiating fin structure 20 includes not only the first and the secondascending airflow-guiding section 33, 34 angularly upward extended fromone pair of opposite ends of the main body 30, but also the third andthe fourth ascending airflow-guiding section 36, 37 angularly upwardextended from another pair of opposite ends of the main body 30. Thethermal module 40 in the third embodiment is generally structurallysimilar to the first embodiment, except that the radiating fins 20thereof are the same as that shown in FIG. 5A. Therefore, in addition tothe horizontal airflow passages 41 and the first and second ascendingairflow passages 42, 43, a third ascending airflow passage 44 is furtherdefined between any two vertically adjacent third ascendingairflow-guiding sections 36, and a fourth ascending airflow passage 45is further defined between any two vertically adjacent fourth ascendingairflow-guiding sections 37. In the third embodiment of the thermalmodule 40, the heat received by the radiating fins 20 from theheat-dissipation ends of the heat pipes is radiated into the horizontalairflow passages 41 to heat the air therein. Since the provision of thefirst, second, third and fourth ascending airflow passages 42, 43, 44,45 at all four ends of the main bodies 30 of the radiating fins 20enhances the phenomenon of natural convection, the hot air in thehorizontal airflow passages 41 naturally flows through the first,second, third and fourth ascending airflow passages 42, 43, 44, 45 to aspace outside the radiating fins 20 and carries heat away from thethermal module 40 and the heat-generating element. In this manner, thethermal module 40 can have further upgraded natural cooling efficiencyand the absorbed heat would not accumulate in the horizontal airflowpassages 41. Further, with the present invention, the overall area ofthe radiating fins 20 can be reduced to enable lowered weight andmaterial cost of the thermal module 40.

It is noted the third and the fourth ascending airflow-guiding section36, 37 may also be formed from a plurality of integrally connectedextending segments (not shown) and accordingly have a curved shape. Withthe curved third and fourth ascending airflow-guiding sections 36, 37,it is also able to define curved third and fourth ascending airflowpassages 44, 45, which similarly provide natural convection spaces toupgrade the natural cooling efficiency of the thermal module 40.

Please refer to FIG. 6 that is a side view of a radiating fin structure20 according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.The radiating fin 20 in the fourth preferred embodiment is provided oneach of the first and second surfaces 31, 32 with a coating layer 70,which can be a radiation-enhancing coating for upgrading a coolingeffect of the radiating fin 20. When the radiating fins 20 provided withthe coating layers 70 are sequentially extended through by the at leastone heat pipe 50 to form the thermal module 40 of the present inventionfor transferring and dissipating heat, it is able to effectively upgradethe natural cooling efficiency of the thermal module 40 and prevent theheat from accumulating in the horizontal airflow passages 41.

The present invention has been described with some preferred embodimentsthereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in thedescribed embodiments, such as changes in the configuration orarrangement thereof, can be carried out without departing from the scopeand the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only bythe appended claims.

1. A radiating fin structure comprising a main body having an upper anda lower side defining a first and a second surface, respectively; andthe main body having at least one pair of opposite ends angularly upwardextended from the first surface to form at least a first ascendingairflow-guiding section and at least a second ascending airflow-guidingsection.
 2. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first ascending airflow-guiding section and a line extended from thesecond surface of the main body together define a first exterior angletherebetween.
 3. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 2,wherein the first exterior angle is ranged between 30 degrees and 80degrees.
 4. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe first exterior angle is ranged between 45 degrees and 60 degrees. 5.The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondascending airflow-guiding section and a line extended from the secondsurface of the main body together define a second exterior angletherebetween.
 6. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 5,wherein the second exterior angle is ranged between 30 degrees and 80degrees.
 7. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe second exterior angle is ranged between 45 degrees and 60 degrees.8. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstascending airflow-guiding section includes a plurality of firstextending segments, and the first extending segments being integrallyconnected to one another to constitute the first ascendingairflow-guiding section.
 9. The radiating fin structure as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the second ascending airflow-guiding section includes aplurality of second extending segments, and the second extendingsegments being integrally connected to one another to constitute thesecond ascending airflow-guiding section.
 10. The radiating finstructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is furtherangularly upward extended from a first one of another pair of oppositeends to form at least a third ascending airflow-guiding section, suchthat a third exterior angle is contained between the third ascendingairflow-guiding section and a line extended from the second surface ofthe main body.
 11. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 10,wherein the third exterior angle is ranged between 30 degrees and 80degrees.
 12. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 10, whereinthe third exterior angle is ranged between 45 degrees and 60 degrees.13. The radiating fin structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein thethird ascending airflow-guiding section includes a plurality of thirdextending segments, and the third extending segments being integrallyconnected to one another to constitute the third ascendingairflow-guiding section.
 14. The radiating fin structure as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the main body is further angularly upward extended froma second one of another pair of opposite ends to form at least a fourthascending airflow-guiding section, such that a fourth exterior angle iscontained between the fourth ascending airflow-guiding section and aline extended from the second surface of the main body.
 15. Theradiating fin structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fourthexterior angle is ranged between 30 degrees and 80 degrees.
 16. Theradiating fin structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fourthexterior angle is ranged between 45 degrees and 60 degrees.
 17. Theradiating fin structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fourthascending airflow-guiding section includes a plurality of fourthextending segments, and the fourth extending segments being integrallyconnected to one another to constitute the fourth ascendingairflow-guiding section.
 18. A thermal module comprising: at least oneheat pipe having a heat-dissipation end and a heat-absorption end; aplurality of radiating fins; each of the radiating fins including a mainbody having an upper and a lower side defining a first and a secondsurface, respectively; and the main body having at last one pair ofopposite ends angularly upward extended from the first surface to format least a first ascending airflow-guiding section and at least a secondascending airflow-guiding section; and the radiating fins beingsequentially extended through by the heat-dissipation end of the atleast one heat pipe, such that a plurality of ascending airflow passagesare defined between the radiating fins; and a base being provided withat least one receiving hole for receiving the heat-absorption end of theat least one heat pipe therein.
 19. The thermal module as claimed inclaim 18, wherein the ascending airflow passages are respectivelydefined between any two vertically adjacent first ascendingairflow-guiding sections and between any two vertically adjacent secondascending airflow-guiding sections of the radiating fins.
 20. Thethermal module as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first ascendingairflow-guiding section and a line extended from the second surface ofthe main body together define a first exterior angle therebetween. 21.The thermal module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first exteriorangle is ranged between 30 degrees and 80 degrees.
 22. The thermalmodule as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first exterior angle isranged between 45 degrees and 60 degrees.
 23. The thermal module asclaimed in claim 18, wherein the second ascending airflow-guidingsection and a line extended from the second surface of the main bodytogether define a second exterior angle therebetween.
 24. The thermalmodule as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second exterior angle isranged between 30 degrees and 80 degrees.
 25. The thermal module asclaimed in claim 23, wherein the second exterior angle is ranged between45 degrees and 60 degrees.
 26. The thermal module as claimed in claim18, wherein the first ascending airflow-guiding section includes aplurality of first extending segments, and the first extending segmentsbeing integrally connected to one another to constitute the firstascending airflow-guiding section.
 27. The thermal module as claimed inclaim 18, wherein the second ascending airflow-guiding section includesa plurality of second extending segments, and the second extendingsegments being integrally connected to one another to constitute thesecond ascending airflow-guiding section.
 28. The thermal module asclaimed in claim 18, wherein the main body of each of the radiating finsis further angularly upward extended from a first one of another pair ofopposite ends to form at least a third ascending airflow-guidingsection, such that a third exterior angle is contained between the thirdascending airflow-guiding section and a line extended from the secondsurface of the main body.
 29. The thermal module as claimed in claim 28,wherein the ascending airflow passages are further defined between anytwo vertically adjacent third ascending airflow-guiding sections. 30.The thermal module as claimed in claim 28, wherein the third exteriorangle is ranged between 30 degrees and 80 degrees.
 31. The thermalmodule as claimed in claim 28, wherein the third exterior angle isranged between 45 degrees and 60 degrees.
 32. The thermal module asclaimed in claim 28, wherein the third ascending airflow-guiding sectionincludes a plurality of third extending segments, and the thirdextending segments being integrally connected to one another toconstitute the third ascending airflow-guiding section.
 33. The thermalmodule as claimed in claim 18, wherein the main body of each of theradiating fins is further angularly upward extended from a second one ofanother pair of opposite ends to form at least a fourth ascendingairflow-guiding section, such that a fourth exterior angle is containedbetween the fourth ascending airflow-guiding section and a line extendedfrom the second surface of the main body.
 34. The thermal module asclaimed in claim 33, wherein the ascending airflow passages are furtherdefined between any two vertically adjacent fourth ascendingairflow-guiding sections.
 35. The thermal module as claimed in claim 33,wherein the fourth exterior angle is ranged between 30 degrees and 80degrees.
 36. The thermal module as claimed in claim 33, wherein thefourth exterior angle is ranged between 45 degrees and 60 degrees. 37.The thermal module as claimed in claim 33, wherein the fourth ascendingairflow-guiding section includes a plurality of fourth extendingsegments, and the fourth extending segments being integrally connectedto one another to constitute the fourth ascending airflow-guidingsection.
 38. The thermal module as claimed in claim 18, wherein thefirst and the second surface of each of the radiating fins respectivelyhave a coating layer formed thereon.
 39. The thermal module as claimedin claim 38, wherein the coating layer is a radiation-enhancing coatingfor upgrading a cooling effect of the radiating fin.